Read Online The Divorce Papers: A Novel by Susan Rieger - Free Book Online
Authors: Susan Rieger
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Grace Kelly’s mother in
To Catch a Thief
, very down-to-earth, a bourbon drinker. You’d like her. She’d like you. My starchiness can’t be laid at her feet.
I am sorry you’ve been roped into this matter. I know I promised. At the very least, I should have asked you in person.
David
P.S. I know who the Simpsons are. I have sons, remember.
P.P.S. Don’t think I didn’t catch the Tony Kushner reference. I think
Angels in America
is the great American play of the second half of the 20th century. First half:
A Streetcar Named Desire
.
Men
----
From: Sophie Diehl
To: Maggie Pfeiffer
Date: Sat, 27 Mar 1999 11:32:54
Subject: Men
3/27/99 11:32 AM
Mags—
I am wiped out. I crawled in at 4 a.m. I haven’t stayed out, let alone up, that late since your wedding. What can I say? Harry is terrific. I could fall for him, heavily and physically. I didn’t see any of his dark, brooding side. Probably blinded by those shoulders. He was funny, smart, interesting—and interested. He liked my client stories, especially the Trilling saga; but then what’s not to like about a case where a sociopath kills his neighbor because his Pekinese shat on his lawn? I’m seeing him again tonight after the rehearsal. My fantasy life may start taking a backseat to my real one. Although that has been resurrected. I’ve resumed my crush on DG. He wrote me an email in his old unconsciously (?) flirtatious way. Or, maybe not. Maybe he was just being teasing and playful.
I have to go into the office this afternoon to work on the Trilling case and tidy up my regular workload, since on Monday I begin divorce detail. I’ll see you this evening. I’ll come by at the end of rehearsal to watch the last act. I think the play will be a great success and you are wonderful as Annie, though not very likable. It’s interesting that a play about love is about adultery. I know you can’t do a marriage play without adultery—no plot—but there are less cruel ways of doing it (though no doubt less dramatically interesting). Perhaps for Stoppard, only the love for children is the real thing. My favorite bit is the second scene, where the playwright’s first wife says about him and their daughter: “He’s in love with his [daughter].” (I’m improvising.) And you (second wife) say: “Isn’t that normal?” And the ex-wife says: “Normal is the other way round.” I wonder why hepicked this play? Does it resonate with anyone who wasn’t divorced or whose parents weren’t divorced? I’m thinking I should send my new client and her husband (and his new sweetheart) complimentary tickets to your play. I’m also thinking I should stop fantasizing about Mrs. Greaves’s husband. God, he’s as old as my father. I am disgusting.
But then there’s Harry. Do you know when I saw him, I could feel the hairs on the back of my neck bristling? I haven’t felt that way since 11th grade when I sat across the aisle from Jack in the theater class at Collegiate. I used to think I’d fall off my chair. I’d lost all will; I was pure desire—and desire couldn’t sit up straight or pay attention to
Joe Egg
. Do we ever feel that intensely again? No. Only teenagers kill themselves for love; Maman says, Anna threw herself under the train not because she lost Vronsky but because she lost her son. There we are again: the love for children.
I need more sleep.
Kiss Matt for me. Love,
Sophie
----
Hello
----
From: Harry Mortensen
To: Sophie Diehl
Date: Sat, 27 Mar 1999 15:01:53
Subject: Hello
3/27/99 3:01 PM
Sweet Sophie—How are you feeling? Did you get any sleep? I’m wrecked. And you did it. You are coming by rehearsal tonight, aren’t you? It should be over by 12:30, but you’re welcome anytime.
Harry
TRAYNOR, HAND, WYZANSKI
222 CHURCH STREET
NEW SALEM, NARRAGANSETT 06555
(393) 876-5678
MEMORANDUM
Attorney Work Product
From:
Sophie Diehl
To:
David Greaves
RE:
Matter of Durkheim
Date:
March 29,
To Catch a Thief
, very down-to-earth, a bourbon drinker. You’d like her. She’d like you. My starchiness can’t be laid at her feet.
I am sorry you’ve been roped into this matter. I know I promised. At the very least, I should have asked you in person.
David
P.S. I know who the Simpsons are. I have sons, remember.
P.P.S. Don’t think I didn’t catch the Tony Kushner reference. I think
Angels in America
is the great American play of the second half of the 20th century. First half:
A Streetcar Named Desire
.
Men
----
From: Sophie Diehl
To: Maggie Pfeiffer
Date: Sat, 27 Mar 1999 11:32:54
Subject: Men
3/27/99 11:32 AM
Mags—
I am wiped out. I crawled in at 4 a.m. I haven’t stayed out, let alone up, that late since your wedding. What can I say? Harry is terrific. I could fall for him, heavily and physically. I didn’t see any of his dark, brooding side. Probably blinded by those shoulders. He was funny, smart, interesting—and interested. He liked my client stories, especially the Trilling saga; but then what’s not to like about a case where a sociopath kills his neighbor because his Pekinese shat on his lawn? I’m seeing him again tonight after the rehearsal. My fantasy life may start taking a backseat to my real one. Although that has been resurrected. I’ve resumed my crush on DG. He wrote me an email in his old unconsciously (?) flirtatious way. Or, maybe not. Maybe he was just being teasing and playful.
I have to go into the office this afternoon to work on the Trilling case and tidy up my regular workload, since on Monday I begin divorce detail. I’ll see you this evening. I’ll come by at the end of rehearsal to watch the last act. I think the play will be a great success and you are wonderful as Annie, though not very likable. It’s interesting that a play about love is about adultery. I know you can’t do a marriage play without adultery—no plot—but there are less cruel ways of doing it (though no doubt less dramatically interesting). Perhaps for Stoppard, only the love for children is the real thing. My favorite bit is the second scene, where the playwright’s first wife says about him and their daughter: “He’s in love with his [daughter].” (I’m improvising.) And you (second wife) say: “Isn’t that normal?” And the ex-wife says: “Normal is the other way round.” I wonder why hepicked this play? Does it resonate with anyone who wasn’t divorced or whose parents weren’t divorced? I’m thinking I should send my new client and her husband (and his new sweetheart) complimentary tickets to your play. I’m also thinking I should stop fantasizing about Mrs. Greaves’s husband. God, he’s as old as my father. I am disgusting.
But then there’s Harry. Do you know when I saw him, I could feel the hairs on the back of my neck bristling? I haven’t felt that way since 11th grade when I sat across the aisle from Jack in the theater class at Collegiate. I used to think I’d fall off my chair. I’d lost all will; I was pure desire—and desire couldn’t sit up straight or pay attention to
Joe Egg
. Do we ever feel that intensely again? No. Only teenagers kill themselves for love; Maman says, Anna threw herself under the train not because she lost Vronsky but because she lost her son. There we are again: the love for children.
I need more sleep.
Kiss Matt for me. Love,
Sophie
----
Hello
----
From: Harry Mortensen
To: Sophie Diehl
Date: Sat, 27 Mar 1999 15:01:53
Subject: Hello
3/27/99 3:01 PM
Sweet Sophie—How are you feeling? Did you get any sleep? I’m wrecked. And you did it. You are coming by rehearsal tonight, aren’t you? It should be over by 12:30, but you’re welcome anytime.
Harry
TRAYNOR, HAND, WYZANSKI
222 CHURCH STREET
NEW SALEM, NARRAGANSETT 06555
(393) 876-5678
MEMORANDUM
Attorney Work Product
From:
Sophie Diehl
To:
David Greaves
RE:
Matter of Durkheim
Date:
March 29,
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